What does merely mean?
Definitions for merely
mere·ly
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word merely.
Princeton's WordNet
merely, simply, just, only, butadverb
and nothing more
"I was merely asking"; "it is simply a matter of time"; "just a scratch"; "he was only a child"; "hopes that last but a moment"
Wiktionary
merelyadverb
Wholly, entirely.
merelyadverb
Without any other reason etc.; only, just, and nothing more.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
Merelyadverb
Simply; only; thus and no other way; for this and for no other end or purpose.
Etymology: from mere.
Which thing we ourselves would grant, if the use thereof had been merely and only mystical. Richard Hooker, b. v.
These external manners of laments
Are merely shadows to the unseen grief,
That swells with silence in the tortur’d soul. William Shakespeare.It is below reasonable creatures to be conversant in such diversions as are merely innocent, and have nothing else to recommend them. Joseph Addison, Spect. №. 93.
Above a thousand bought his almanack merely to find what he said against me. Jonathan Swift.
Prize not your life for other ends
Than merely to oblige your friends. Jonathan Swift.
ChatGPT
merely
Merely can be generally defined as something that is only or just its basic form or level, with little significance or importance attached to it. It emphasizes simplicity, insignificance, or lack of complexity.
Webster Dictionary
Merelyadverb
purely; unmixedly; absolutely
Merelyadverb
not otherwise than; simply; barely; only
British National Corpus
Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'merely' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1332
Written Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'merely' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3103
Adverbs Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'merely' in Adverbs Frequency: #125
Anagrams for merely »
yelmer
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of merely in Chaldean Numerology is: 2
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of merely in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6
Examples of merely in a Sentence
God sends children for another purpose than merely to keep up the race - to enlarge our hearts; and to make us unselfish and full of kindly sympathies and affection; to give our shoulds higher aims; to call out all our faculties to extended enterprise and exertion and to bring round our firesides bright faces, happy smiles, and loving, tender hearts. My soul blesses the great Father, every day, that he has gladdened the earth with little children
My music is not modern, it is merely badly played.
In 2012, fiancs Charlie Craig and David Mullins attempted to order a cake to celebrate Charlie Craig and David Mullins upcoming wedding, from the Masterpiece Cakeshop, in Lakewood, Colo. Jack Phillips, Jack Phillips, told Charlie Craig and David Mullins Jack Phillips would sell Charlie Craig and David Mullins any other baked goods in Jack Phillips store, but would not design a wedding cake because it was in conflict with Jack Phillips Christian beliefs. Charlie Craig and Charlie Craig and David Mullins filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which ruled in Charlie Craig and David Mullins favor, as did the Colorado Court of Appeals. In its determination in favor of Jack Phillips, the high court did not alter Colorado's anti-discrimination law, instead the case turned on the way in which the baker was treated by Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote,... some of the commissioners at the commission's formal, public hearings endorsed the view that religious beliefs can not legitimately be carried into the public sphere or commercial domain, disparaged Philips' faith as despicable and characterized it as merely rhetorical, and compared Justice Anthony Kennedy invocation of Justice Anthony Kennedy sincerely held religious beliefs to defenses of slavery and the holocaust. Charlie Craig, Charlie Craig and David Mullins, and the ACLU, which assisted in the case, agreed, on that part of the decision. We never disagreed about Charlie Craig religious convictions, we just think when you open the doors to the public, you have to serve everyone equally. Kristen Waggoner, Jack Phillips attorney, insists this isn't about discrimination, but religious freedom, which Kristen Waggoner said the high court affirmed. Jack Phillips said Jack Phillips lost 40 percent of Jack Phillips business after the initial lawsuit was filed six years ago. Jack Phillips has since been forced to lay off workers. Jack Phillips said Jack Phillips hopes the ruling will boost business.
Those who construct loyalty programs through frequent-flyer points and the like, are merely trying to trap the customer. Loyalty must come naturally, not via points and schemes. If your customers are loyal to you as a result of such programs, then surely you realize that they are not loyal. Such schemes are tangible, and tangible things are susceptible to the law of annihilation. Anything that you do, can be matched by your competitor.
La Marseillaise sung by the English will make the moment even greater, we are very moved by all the messages of support in England and indeed across the world. Tomorrow, representing France as a nation will be more important than merely representing French football.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
Translations for merely
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- بالكادArabic
- то́лькі, про́стаBelarusian
- merament, simplementCatalan, Valencian
- pouzeCzech
- bloß, schier, nur, lediglichGerman
- απλώςGreek
- تنهاPersian
- vain, ainoastaan, pelkästäänFinnish
- uniquement, simplement, seulementFrench
- csak, csupánHungarian
- soltanto, meramente, semplicemente, solamenteItalian
- 単に, ただ, ばかりJapanese
- គ្រាន់តែKhmer
- tantum, sōlumLatin
- louter, alleenDutch
- tʼóóNavajo, Navaho
- tylkoPolish
- somente, meramentePortuguese
- abia, doarRomanian
- то́лько, про́сто, всего́-на́всего, лишьRussian
- jedino, prostoSerbo-Croatian
- yalnızca, sadeceTurkish
- лише́, ті́льки, про́стоUkrainian
- 僅僅Chinese
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"merely." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/merely>.
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